Brew and view renovations should now happen quickly, operator says

The marquee is out of date: Skip Huston, owner of the Theater Management Group, said Thursday that the refurbished Sterling Theater will open as a brew and view on July 3.

BY KIRAN SOOD
ksood@saukvalley.com
800-798-4085, ext. 529

STERLING – It’s official: The Sterling Theater will open July 3, its new operator said.

Skip Huston, who owns The Theater Management Group, said Thursday that he plans to open the brew and view – which means wine and beer with your movie, if you like – with “a brand new, exclusive film. A big, big movie for the summer.”

Huston had hoped to open in May, as it says on the theater marquee, but much work has yet to be done.

“The first thing that has to be accomplished, the building has to be absolutely secured,” he said. “The previous owner let it deteriorate so much ... nothing we weren’t expecting.”

Huston and his team are “making sure the roof is not leaking, the plumbing is all right, the electricity is the way it’s supposed to be.”

A new heating and air conditioning system is being installed, all the carpet has been ripped out and is being replaced, and new wall coverings must be hung.

“[There are] a lot of things that will happen quickly once the building is secured,” he said. “I saw very little that happened between my March and April visit. When I come in 2 weeks, there’s going to be progress. There’s a lot of good people working behind the scenes.”

He also has decided that both screens will offer 3-D projection. The digital projection equipment will be installed June 24. The management company then will hire and train staff.

Huston also is working on details he hopes will make the establishment shine. For instance, he has ordered four backlit poster frames to hang in the lobby.

“I never saw it in its heyday, but I cannot imagine it is going to look better than when we’re done.”

Huston is grateful for the community’s support.

“The city of Sterling has bent over backward,” he said. “Couldn’t be happier with all of them. It’s always nice to know how excited [the community is] about it.”